sampan

sam·pan

(săm′păn′)

n.

A flatbottom Asian skiff usually propelled by two oars.

[Cantonese saam1 baan2 (akin to Mandarin sābǎn), from Middle Chinese sam pa⋮n´ : sam, three (ultimately from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *sum; akin to Tibetan gsum and Burmese sûm) + pa⋮n´, board (since the hulls of sampans were originally constructed from three planks of wood, two for the sides and one for the bottom); see teppanyaki.]

sampan

(ˈsæmpæn)

n

(Nautical Terms) any small skiff, widely used in the Orient, that is propelled by oars or a scull

[C17: from Chinese san pan, from san three + pan board]

sam•pan

(ˈsæm pæn)

n.

any of various small boats of the Far East, as one propelled by a single scull over the stern and provided with a roofing of mats.

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